Probe assembly and apparatus for measuring the PH of a tissue of a human or animal organ

Abstract

A probe assembly includes at least two electrodes for measuring a potential difference between two measurement sites of a tissue of a human or animal organ and at least one sensor for measuring the tissue temperature. The probe assembly further includes a common support on which are placed the electrodes and the sensor. The support comprises conductors for linking the electrodes and the sensor to a signal processing unit with a view to calculating the tissue pH of the organ.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A probe assembly comprising: first and second electrodes for measuring a potential difference, comprising a measurement electrode in the form of a needle intended to be sunk into tissue and a metal reference electrode in the form of a plate intended to be applied to a surface of the tissue for calculating a potential difference between an internal measurement site and an external measurement site;   at least one sensor for measuring the tissue temperature; and   a common support on which are placed the electrodes and the sensor and comprising conductors for linking the electrodes and the sensor to a signal processing unit to calculate the tissue pH.   
     
     
       2. A probe assembly according to claim 1, wherein said metal reference electrode is covered with a porous substance which can deform elastically in accordance with a shape of the tissue of an organ and is soaked with an electrically conducting fluid. 
     
     
       3. A probe assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor for measuring the tissue temperature is a contact measurement sensor intended to be applied to an external surface of an organ. 
     
     
       4. A probe assembly according to claim 1, wherein said common support includes a printed circuit board on one face of which are fixed said first and second electrodes and said at least one sensor at corresponding connection sites. 
     
     
       5. A probe assembly according to claim 4, wherein said printed circuit board is covered with a flexible insulating substance extending laterally via a rim for suturing said printed circuit board to said organ. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus for measuring a pH of a tissue of a human or animal organ, the apparatus comprising: a probe assembly including first and second electrodes for measuring a potential difference between two corresponding measurement sites of the tissue of a human or animal organ; and   at least one sensor for measuring a tissue temperature;   wherein the probe assembly includes a common support on which are placed said first and second electrodes and said at least one sensor, said common support comprising conductors for linking the first and second electrodes and the at least one sensor to a signal processing unit for calculating the tissue pH of the organ, said probe assembly being linked to a signal processing unit in which is stored an algorithm for calculating the pH of the organ from values of the potential difference and from the temperature which are delivered respectively by said first and second electrodes and said sensor.